This unit is one of a group of units written to fit the Certificate of Sixth Year Studies (CSYS) chemistry course, but it could be used with most Sixth Form courses. It includes: (1) background information for teachers with notes on five topics (antifreeze, ethanol production, solvent prices, iron extraction, and paint solvents); (2) a student information packet, with introductory comments and suggested activities for each of the five topics; and (3) an oversized reference chart listing properties of various compounds. The topics were chosen to integrate the course material with the world of chemistry outside the classroom and the discussion takes into account such factors as economics and safety as well as purely chemical factors. (DH)